Holland's Science Center NEMO

Take the family to Amsterdam and enjoy a day at the Science Center NEMO. Housed in a ship-shaped building, which sits on top of a car tunnel, the Netherlands’ largest science museum has five floors of interactive activities in both English and Dutch.

Some of the highlights include Soap Bubbles where kids can make a soap bubble big enough to fit inside and the Wonder Lab, a chemistry lab where you can try the labs twelve experiments and create new substances. There are also water and electricity exhibitions. Not to be played with together, of course. For older kids Teen Facts gives insight into what puberty does to their bodies, from raging hormones to their rapidly growing brains.

The fun doesn’t end on the fifth floor. BovenNEMO, the museum’s rooftop terrace, offers panoramic views of the IJ River and the recently renovated Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum). When the weather permits, enjoy sandpits and more than 4,000 liters of water cascading through 30 water tanks on BovenNEMO’s exhibition Splashing Water Wonder.

NEMO is open Tues – Sun 10am – 5pm September – May. June-August the museum is also open on Monday. The cost of admission is 12.50 euros per person. Children 3 and under are free. Entrance is also free for those with the I Amsterdam Card.

When visiting Amsterdam, consider investing in the I Amsterdam Card, which offers free or discounted entrance to a number of the city’s other venues, attractions and restaurants, as well as unlimited use of Amsterdam’s public transportation.

About The Author

Monique White is a native Californian who has spent the last two decades living in The Netherlands. A mom of 2 teenage daughters who are also enthusiastic travelers, Monique blogs at An Unstoppable Journey where she writes about her life as an expat, travels around the globe, both alone and with her family, and her quest to “run the world” one destination race at a time.